17-year-old who shot, killed his online girlfriend at their first meeting pleads guilty

The defendant originally pleaded not guilty to murder charges before taking a plea deal reducing the charge to first degree manslaughter

A 17-year-old that killed his 16-year-old long-distance girlfriend the first time they met in person has pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter.

Michael Gavin Campbell, of South Dakota, admitted to the shooting of Shayna Ritthaler of Wyoming on Thursday in court. He is facing up to 55 years in prison later this year when he's sentenced.

Mr Campbell told the Meade County Court that the pair had been dating remotely and, during their first meeting, got into an argument. Then he shot her with his mother's handgun.

"We got into an argument and then I shot her," he said. "I shot her in the head."

The girl's body was found on 7 October in the basement of Mr Campbell's home, where he lived with his mother.

His mother was not home at the time of the shooting.

Mr Campbell's attorney claims the shooting was not planned, but was influenced by drugs and alcohol.

Mr Campbell and Ms Ritthaler met via an online dating site, and eventually agreed on a plan which included Ms Ritthaler running away to live with Mr Campbell.

Ms Ritthaler was last seen on 3 October getting into a white Jeep at a coffee shop in South Dakota, which the case prosecutor said belonged to Mr Campbell. The vehicle was his mother's.

Mr Campbell originally pleaded not guilty and not guilty by reason of insanity to a pair of first and second degree murder counts, but has since taken a plea deal agreeing to waive his right to appeal the judge's ruling in exchange for a charge reduction from first degree murder to first degree manslaughter. He also owes the family more than $8,300 in restitution